Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-02-04
ANARCHY In COLORADO.
Republican Commissioners Forced to Re
sign by n Mob.

Republican Commissioners Forced to Re
sign by n Mob.
DENVER, February 3.-Pagosa Springs,
the seat Of Archuletta county, is in state
of ofanarchy. A mob has driven the County
Commissioners from town; burned several
houses belonging to Commissioner Scase,
and forced him TO resign his office at the
point of reyolvers A special from there
says J. B. Martinez, J. p. Archuletts, and
NJ. S. Scase, Republican County Commits
sioners, were on January Sd unseated by
Democratic Sheriff named Height The
act was perpetrated with political intent,
and the mob which followed the Sheriff,
after having accomplished the act OF in
timidatiou, burned the house of Mr.. Sc,ase
at Pagosa Springs. This last act was COM
mitted on Monday, during the absence of
above named Commissioners were elected
by Republican votes, and at the same time
a Democrat named Height was elected
Sheriff There was great deal of feeling
at the polls, but the preponderation Of the
Mexican vote assured Martinez, Archu-
letta and Scase their triumph over the At
tacks of their antagonists.
The feeling increased instead of dimin-
ishing rs the time for their induction into
Office approached, and on January I'd, the
time for their official appearance at the
county seat, an armed mob Of fifteen or
twenty, led by Sheriff Height, forced their
way into the room where the commission
es were seated and demanded that they
vacate their seats. The Sheriff insisted
that the designations he made dt once, else
there would be blood shed. The commis-
sioners, mistaken by the temper ofthe mob,
refused, under the impression that the
demonstration was nothing more than
bluster; but the mob, intent on their pur-
pose, took forcible possession of the COM
missioners. and with more threats locked
them in a room, declaring il TO be their
purpose TO starye them into submission.
At the time of
THE FORCIBLE ENTRY
of the mob MARTINEZ lett the room and es-
capped from the building. A delegation
from the mob overlook him, forcibly
dragged him to the Court House and lock
ed him up with his companions. Finally,
at the expiration of five or six hours, the
mob permitted their prisoners to 90, but
the concession seemed 10 be for "A purpose
As soon rs the Commissioners separated
the mob, with the Sheriff still at their
head, followed Commissioner Scase tO his
home. Scase was the proprietor Of the
hotel at Pagosa Springs, and it was here
that he resided. The mob surrounded the
hotel, and taking Sclse again in custody,
he WAS dragged from his family and with
a gun at his head, compelled To resign his
Office as Commissioner. The resignation 20
obtained was sent to Governor Adams, aud
instructions sent with 1t that he appoint
at once "a Democrat IN place of Scase. Since
that time the Board has not met, no laws
have been enforced, and condition OF
things bordering upon anarchy has pre-
vailed
The Commissioners have not been per
mitted TO set foot in the county since the
day they were warned ut the peril of their
lives not To return. In fact, IL was dan
gerOus to remain in the vicinity and vi
they departed at once 10 Denver, not only
for protection, but TO lay their grievances
before their representative in the Legisla-
tule and the Governor. The Governor is
doing all in his powes to secure u settle
ment of the trouble. and the matter
brought before the General Assembly yes
terday and joint committee appointed Ia
investigate the affair.